USC has questions in the defensive backfield but not at cornerback. Keith Heyward said that Kevon Seymour and Adoree' Jackson are still solid, which USC fans expected. But the two safety positions are still worth worrying about. And the Trojans also added some new freshmen talent.
Heyward went in depth with TrojanSports.com about his rebuild secondary, his new players and more.
TrojanSports.com: How are the safeties rotating in camp?
Keith Heyward: "It's just equal reps. They're rotating themselves really, (Leon) McQuay, (Chris) Hawkins, (John) Plattenburg, they're just rotating those reps with the ones. Marvell (Tell) has gotten in there also. So right now, it's kind of a fluid rotation. It doesn't mean anything, there's no indication of what we're going to go into Arkansas State with. We're trying to get guys better and really with the young guys, get them exposed to our defense and get them as many reps as I can."
What are your thoughts on the safeties this year?
KH: "I feel like its going to be good. Chris is really smart and really consistent. Leon is looking good and fast and playing more confident and communicating. Plattenburg is the same way, communicating, he's confident. And Marvell, he's been moving great. Once he learns what he can do, that guy can cover ground. And then Ykili's been really impressive with what he's doing, he's making calls. We have a good group of guys there. And then Lopes is one of the guys that's helping me teach those guys. So Lopes is doing a good job too. I feel good about those guys right now but we still have to continue to get better."
Can Ykili Ross and Marvell Tell make an immediate impact?
KH: "That's the plan and then we want to make sure we can get as much depth as we can and then I have to teach as best as I can so they can get on the football field and help us out. That's my job."
Has Leon McQuay taken a jump since the spring?
KH: "I just think that this is all of their second year within our scheme. So after the season and then going into the spring, they have a better understanding. And then after the spring, going into the fall and seeing all the concepts are the same. And me knowing him and how to teach him a little bit better this time around, so I think all the guys have taken a jump."
Will Jonathan Lockett play safety this fall?
KH: "He's been at corner so far, we haven't played him at anything else yet this camp. Will that change? I don't know. The plan is, like I always say, is for the guys to be ready to move around and play different positions. If they can handle that, that would be great because it would be great to move guys around and play different things as needed.
What are your early impressions of the new guys?
KH: "(Isaiah) Langley, Tell, (Iman) Marshall, Ykili, they've all been good. With the little bit of time I've spent with them, they've all picked up whatever parts of the defense, the terminology pretty well. It's good to see those young guys have high football IQ. It's one thing to study on a page but it's another thing to come out here, the offense is coming at you and as fast as we go, so they'll get better."
Heyward went in depth with TrojanSports.com about his rebuild secondary, his new players and more.
TrojanSports.com: How are the safeties rotating in camp?
Keith Heyward: "It's just equal reps. They're rotating themselves really, (Leon) McQuay, (Chris) Hawkins, (John) Plattenburg, they're just rotating those reps with the ones. Marvell (Tell) has gotten in there also. So right now, it's kind of a fluid rotation. It doesn't mean anything, there's no indication of what we're going to go into Arkansas State with. We're trying to get guys better and really with the young guys, get them exposed to our defense and get them as many reps as I can."
What are your thoughts on the safeties this year?
KH: "I feel like its going to be good. Chris is really smart and really consistent. Leon is looking good and fast and playing more confident and communicating. Plattenburg is the same way, communicating, he's confident. And Marvell, he's been moving great. Once he learns what he can do, that guy can cover ground. And then Ykili's been really impressive with what he's doing, he's making calls. We have a good group of guys there. And then Lopes is one of the guys that's helping me teach those guys. So Lopes is doing a good job too. I feel good about those guys right now but we still have to continue to get better."
Can Ykili Ross and Marvell Tell make an immediate impact?
KH: "That's the plan and then we want to make sure we can get as much depth as we can and then I have to teach as best as I can so they can get on the football field and help us out. That's my job."
Has Leon McQuay taken a jump since the spring?
KH: "I just think that this is all of their second year within our scheme. So after the season and then going into the spring, they have a better understanding. And then after the spring, going into the fall and seeing all the concepts are the same. And me knowing him and how to teach him a little bit better this time around, so I think all the guys have taken a jump."
Will Jonathan Lockett play safety this fall?
KH: "He's been at corner so far, we haven't played him at anything else yet this camp. Will that change? I don't know. The plan is, like I always say, is for the guys to be ready to move around and play different positions. If they can handle that, that would be great because it would be great to move guys around and play different things as needed.
What are your early impressions of the new guys?
KH: "(Isaiah) Langley, Tell, (Iman) Marshall, Ykili, they've all been good. With the little bit of time I've spent with them, they've all picked up whatever parts of the defense, the terminology pretty well. It's good to see those young guys have high football IQ. It's one thing to study on a page but it's another thing to come out here, the offense is coming at you and as fast as we go, so they'll get better."
